ARM Cortex-M0 with Integrated USB

ARM Cortex-M0 with Integrated USB

NXP Semiconductors N.V. introduced the LPC11U2x series – the first microcontroller based on the ARM® Cortex™-M0 processor to offer integrated USB class drivers. By integrating multiple USB drivers in ROM, the LPC11U2x maximizes Flash memory utilization, saving up to 16 KB of code space while providing fully tested and easy-to-use APIs to enable USB integration in a matter of minutes. With up to 128 KB Flash and up to 4K EEPROM, the NXP LPC11U00 family of microcontrollers is designed for consumer, industrial, handheld and computing applications, and is the ideal choice for engineers looking for low-cost, easy-to-use USB solutions.

Also today, NXP announced that it will initiate a global program in which it will sub-license its USB Vendor ID (VID) and offer Product ID (PID) numbers free of charge to MCU customers. The program is an important step that eliminates a significant start-up cost for potential USB product developers. Further, to make USB development on Cortex-M0 even easier, NXP and ARM have expanded mbed, the popular rapid prototyping tool platform, to include LPC11U2x.

Cortex-M0 Microcontroller with Integrated USB Drivers

The extensible on-chip USB drivers include Human Interface Device (HID), Mass Storage Device Class (MSC), and Communication Device Class (CDC). The driver capability can be further enhanced by NXP’s fully featured open source USB library available on http://www.lpcware.com. Complementing the Cortex-M0 core, the on-chip 32-bit Divide library provides deterministic cycle time execution while executing from low-power ROM. The LPC11U00 family also offers on-chip power profiles which can be customized for any low-power application, so that designers can achieve ideal power levels in active mode with minimal application intervention.

NXP USB VID / PID Program and USB-IF Certification

To reduce time to market and overall costs, NXP is taking an important step by offering customers the option to sub-license the company’s USB Vendor ID number, eliminating a significant start-up cost for USB product developers. With the LPC11U2x, NXP will also offer USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) certification, giving users the assurance that their designs comply with the USB specification and are interoperable with existing USB solutions.

New LPC11U24 mbed Board

In addition to the highly successful LPCXpresso platform, NXP has partnered with the mbed project to create a new mbed NXP LPC11U24 microcontroller board. mbed.org, the ARM-supported rapid prototyping tool for microcontrollers, has extended support of its lightweight online compiler and powerful C/C++ microcontroller SDK to the LPC11U24, making it possible to develop USB devices in a few lines of code.

“Low-cost Cortex-M0 based microcontrollers will become one of the most attractive ways to implement USB applications,” said Simon Ford, Director of Online Tools at ARM. “And with the introduction of the LPC11U24 to the mbed platform, developers can prototype these applications in minutes, backed by the resources and support shared in the mbed community.”

Key Features of the LPC11U2x Series

The NXP LPC11U2x USB microcontroller series builds on and broadens the company’s popular portfolio of ultra-low-power Cortex-M0 microcontrollers, and offers the following features:

Speeds of up to 50MHz

Up to 10KB SRAM and 32KB Flash

Up to 4KB integrated EEPROM for storing critical system data, which reduces the overall system footprint and improves security

Pricing and Availability

NXP LPC11U2x microcontrollers with up to 32K Flash are currently sampling and are available from distributors worldwide. Recommended distribution unit pricing in 10,000 piece quantities for the LPC11U23FBD48/301 (48-pin LQFP package) with 24K Flash, 8K SRAM and 1K EEPROM is at US $1.53. Higher Flash options (32K – 128K) will also be available for sampling in Q1 2012.

Links

Information on NXP Cortex-M0 USB microcontrollers, including the LPC11U2x series, is available at: http://www.nxp.com/products/microcontrollers/cortex_m0/lpc11u00/